Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabrose’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Balcabrose’ characterized by its rose colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, good basal branching character; and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcabrose’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcabrose’.

The new cultivar orginated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during July 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive flower coloration, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1030-2, not patented, characterized by its rose-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and semi-prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding selection designated 1025-2, not patented, characterized by its large pink-colored flowers and semi-prostrate growth habit. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcabrose’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Rose colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Good basal branching character; and     -   4. Moderately vigorous, mounded-trailing growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color, flower size, and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Kakegawa S54’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,840. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Kakegawa S54’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves than plants of         ‘Kakegawa S54’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have lighter green foliage color         than plants of ‘Kakegawa S54’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcabrose’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcabrose’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of three individual flowers of ‘Balcabrose’ showing changes in color from a first opened flower (on left), fully opened flower (in center) to fully mature flower (on right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 25, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 70° F. to 75° F. (21° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 50° F. to 58° F. (10° C. to 14° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botancial classification: Calibrachoa×hybrida cultivar Balcabrose. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 1030-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa×hybrida breeding             selection designated 1025-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             mounded-trailing.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 12.8 cm. Width: Approximately 45.4 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 8             main branches per plant, with lateral branches forming at             very node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Length: Approximately 20.5 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 2.2 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with short hairs. Color: 144A. Internode length at center of             branch: Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 32.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement on flowering             stem: Opposite. Aspect: Petiole is at acute angle to stem,             leaf blade is downward turning. Shape: Elliptic. Margin:             Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             3.1 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 8.1 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Moderately pubescent. Texture of lower             surface: Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: 138A with venation of 145A. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: 138B with venation of 145A. Petiole             length: Approximately 5.7 mm. Petiole diameter:             Approximately 1.6 mm. Petiole texture: Densely pubescent             with short hairs. Petiole color: 145A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcabrose’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 5 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Simple, salverform. Quantity per plant: Approximately             162.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 4 to 6 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Petals N187B, corolla tube 151D             with venation of 187A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with             short hairs, denser along veins. Petal length from tube:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Petal length of free portion:             Approximately 4.3 mm. Petal width: Approximately 1.1 cm.             Color of upper surface when fully open: Closest to N81A.             Color of lower surface when fully open: 186C with midvein of             N199B.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 6.3 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.9 mm. Tube texture inner surface: Glabrous.             Tube texture outer surface: Densely pubescent with short             hairs. Color inner surface: 13B with venation of N79C. Color             of outer surface: 11B with venation of N79C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: At acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.8 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short hairs. Color:             144C.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Sepal             length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Sepal width: Approximately             2.9 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent with short hairs. Color of upper surface: 137C.             Color of lower surface: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 fused to             inside of corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Filament length of free portion: Approximately 6.0 mm.             Filament color: 150D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length:             Approximately 0.8 mm. Anther color: 15C. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 9C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: One             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 7.5 mm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 143B. Style length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Style             color: 145C. Ovary diameter: Approximately 1.5 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcabrose’, substantially as herein shown and described. 